After Failing to Like Mass Effect, This Upcoming Sci-Fi RPG May Be the Solution

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As a big fan of sci-fi and RPGs, you’d think I’d adore Mass Effect. And while I appreciate what Shepard does on the Normandy, I honestly have a hard time getting into the game. I’ll explain why, but I definitely understand why others love it. I can see how its mix of space adventure, RPG elements, and impactful story choices would appeal to someone like me.

It’s frustrating because I want to love Mass Effect – it’s widely considered a sci-fi RPG masterpiece – but I just can’t connect with it. That’s why I’m really excited about the upcoming game, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. It seems to be aiming for the same things that make Mass Effect so great, while also fixing the design elements I personally find difficult. While it’s too early to say how good it will be, I’m hopeful that The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will finally address my biggest issues with Mass Effect.

I Wish I Loved Mass Effect More

Okay, look, I need to say this upfront: I know Mass Effect is a huge deal and a lot of people absolutely love it. It’s considered a classic, and I get that it’s a really well-made game. Honestly, I just… haven’t clicked with it. It’s objectively good, I admit that, but I’m not enjoying it, and that’s okay, right? I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to ruin the experience for those who do love it. Now that we’ve got that covered, let me explain why it’s just not doing it for me.

I first jumped into the Mass Effect universe way back on my Xbox 360 when I was a kid, and honestly, I spent a lot of time wandering around feeling lost. Those big, empty planets just didn’t seem to do much early on – they were mostly just kind of… there. Even now, trying to replay the remastered trilogy as an adult, I still don’t get the point of those half-open worlds, and they actually make the game less fun for me. Look, the first Mass Effect is definitely showing its age. The story is amazing, but the combat, how missions are structured, and the way side content is delivered feel a bit old-fashioned. I can’t totally blame a game that’s almost twenty years old for feeling dated, but it hasn’t held up as well as other classics from that time, like Bioshock, Super Mario Galaxy, or the original Modern Warfare.

I enjoyed the second game in the series much more, even though I hadn’t finished the first one, which left me a bit confused at times. I never did finish Mass Effect 2 for similar reasons to why I struggled with the original – it just didn’t quite click. I always meant to go back to it, though, as I found it much more engaging. I haven’t played the third game, and I know it’s been controversial, but I did try Andromeda. It improved some of the gameplay issues I had, but the story was surprisingly weak, which is hard to accept from a studio like BioWare considering they haven’t told a truly compelling story in years.

I think Mass Effect was at its best when it first came out, when its big ideas felt truly ambitious. Ironically, BioWare has since raised the bar with their later work, and there are now many sci-fi RPGs that I consider even better. However, none of them quite capture what Mass Effect did so well – those core elements still feel special and enduring. The story, writing, and characters are fantastic, and while the first game wasn’t perfect, I can see why it’s so beloved. Few sci-fi RPGs have matched that combination of scale, quality, and presentation. That is, until The Expanse: Osiris Reborn was announced, which seems to be the spiritual successor to Mass Effect that fans have been waiting for.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Is Fixing The Biggest Problems With Mass Effect

Owlcat Games, known for their work on Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, has created an ambitious adaptation of the popular sci-fi series, The Expanse. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a visually impressive, third-person shooter with a lot of choices that affect the story, extensive character customization, and environments you can completely destroy. Early impressions suggest it could be a great option for fans who miss Mass Effect, or something to enjoy while waiting for Mass Effect 5.

Beyond the benefits of being a newer game with updated technology, what I find most exciting about Osiris Reborn is its realistic setting and strong foundation in classic computer role-playing games. Owlcat Games excels at creating RPGs where your choices genuinely matter, affecting both small details within missions and the overall story. The positive feedback from the Osiris Reborn Beta demonstrated this well – even small decisions could lead to big consequences and unlock or lock off content. While Mass Effect also offers impactful choices, I believe Owlcat Games has proven they can deliver meaningful choices on a larger and more significant level.

Just to be upfront, I didn’t come to The Expanse with any existing fondness for the books or the show. I saw the trailer for season one and wasn’t impressed by a character’s hat, so I decided to watch something else. Because of that, I’m starting Osiris Reborn without any preconceived notions about the world or characters. However, I’m confident Owlcat can explain everything well, as they did with Rogue Trader. I want to be clear that I’m not biased just because I recognize the property. I simply think Owlcat is doing something I always wished the older Mass Effect games could achieve, but they can’t, likely because of their age.

I’m not saying BioWare can’t make a great new Mass Effect game. If Mass Effect 5 finally lives up to fans’ expectations – the way Andromeda was supposed to – I’ll be the first to buy it. I genuinely want to enjoy Mass Effect. It’s not about disliking something just because it’s popular. I’ve been actively searching for something similar, like The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, which shows how much I want to love Mass Effect as much as its fans do. I really hope BioWare delivers with Mass Effect 5, giving me a new entry point into the series that truly captivates me. But until then, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn remains the game I’ve always dreamed of – one that fixes everything I’ve found lacking in Mass Effect since childhood.

Is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn better than Mass Effect? Share your thoughts and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-05 21:15